Xander's report.

Keir was just enjoying the taste of Emily's blood, one of his many admirers, in his mouth, when he sensed Xander's presence. He withdrew his fangs from her neck, licked the spot, and wiped the corners of his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Satisfied so soon?" Emily asked, pulling up the strap of her dress. Keir's lips curved in a smile. "Far from it." he said in a husky voice, and the girl smiled widely. "But I have something to take care of."

Emily got up from the bed, fixing her clothes and her disheveled hair. "Alright then. You know where to find me." she said, running her fingers on his exposed chest to his muscled stomach, then licking her lips seductively. Keir's eyes darkened and Emily smiled in satisfaction.

He ran his fingers through his hair as he watched the girl waltz out of the room. Xander appeared almost immediately. Keir's face hardened as he led him to his study. He plopped on the plush sofa cushions, folding his leg over the other. His hands stretched over the sofa's backrest as he waited for Xander's report.

"There's nothing much to hear," Xander said unhurriedly. His usual carefree attitude had dissapeared and his expression turned serious because he knew the information he had was not very helpful. Keir quirked an eyebrow at him and he continued talking.

"Delaney is... a drunkard," he waited to see if he drew any reaction from him but there was none. "She loves apples. She drinks a lot and sleeps like a log. She has no friends, and she does not get along with her family. But there's this woman... some Mrs Wade. I have a feeling she's not as ordinary as she seems. Anyway, that's the only person Delaney gives attention, well apart from Malcolm who has been very absent. Also she has remarkable fighting and hunting skills." For some reason, Xander felt like he sounded exactly like Erick.

"And?" Keir's deep voice interrupted his thoughts. "What useful information did you actually get?" his words weren't hurried and his voice wasn't impatient but Xander knew him better. Even though the man did nothing, he felt reprimanded.

"Listen, I really don't know what to tell you. That woman is very apathetic. She spends her days like some old, sad and poor widower who drinks for a living."

Keir stood up and strode to the desk across the room. He took out a bottle of wine from the cabinet and poured himself a glass. "What of Merikh?" he asked.

"I don't know his whereabouts. But I'm certain she knows. She might know exactly where he is but you know it's impossible to force information out of her."

"Knows what exactly?"

Xander hesitated for a moment. "Ahem... well, she knows his existence. I don't know how much Malcolm might have told her. He only showed up once then left the following day."

"Seems like I was the one on a mission. I have more useful information than you." Keir muttered. He poured another glass and offered it to Xander. "What did you find?" he asked.

"The white dragons are hunting Malcolm. They know he has a student and they will try everything possible to find her and clear their suspicions." Xander sat on the sofa, listening to Keir intently.

"And kill her?" he asked, sipping on the much needed drink.

"Possibly. It will depend on what they find on her. They feel very threatened and they're afraid that the beast... will return and destroy them."

Xander swirled the drink in his hands, wondering what was on Keir's mind. He knew Keir had a spy on the white dragon's territory, otherwise there was no way he would have so much information. "Do you know what Malcolm has been up to?" he asked after much consideration. "His absence seems very suspicious to me. Is he thinking of giving in to them?"

Keir's head whipped up and he stared at Xander with a frown. His lips curved to a smile, then he chuckled amusedly. "You don't seem to understand these things. Malcolm wouldn't dare betray Merikh. He had many chances over the years so why do it now?" he raised an eyebrow and Xander nodded, agreeing with him. If Malcolm wanted to work with the white dragons, he would have done so as soon as he found out the existence of Delaney. But he even adopted her and trained her!

"So what are you planning to do?" he asked, knowing Keir was going to take action at this point. "Get the girl." Keir uttered, and Xander's eyebrows arched up in surprise.

"Get her to where?" He knew his brother was unpredictable, but this was way over unexpected. He couldn't possibly be thinking of bringing that woman to their territory, right? Her character sure was tough but she wouldn't survive a day in the demon world. She would be sucked dry by some hungry demon or worse, be kept as a blood bag. No matter what, she was still a fickle human!

As if changing his mind, Keir turned around, placing his almost empty glass on the desk and made his way for the door. "Nevermind... I'll do it myself."

_____

Mrs Wade slept for a whole day and a whole night. Delaney didn't leave the house, afraid that something would happen to the old woman in her absence. She only went back to Malcolm's house to get the book about dragons, but she barely read it. She dosed off as soon as her body touched the soft mattress.

Mrs Wade woke up the next day, complaining about a terrible headache. Delaney prepared some concoction for her and waited until she had drunk all of it to offer her some food. When she asked about the incident on the previous night, Mrs Wade didn't seem to remember a thing.

"Did something happen?" she asked, confusion written all over her face. "I don't remember a thing. Didn't I come back from the market and fall asleep immediately?" Delaney sighed as she observed her expression carefully.

"You really don't remember lighting some candles and burning incense in your room?" she asked patiently. It couldn't have been her illness. She never acted like that when her illness relapsed. Then did a spirit possess her and talk through her? Delaney laughed at her ridiculous thoughts. What spirit!

"Child, why would I light candles and burn incense? I was not performing some ritual. My husband's memorial is only two months from now." Mrs Wade uttered in amusement. "Are you sure you were sober? Maybe that boy put something in your drink and you started imagining things."

Delaney contemplated her words but she still couldn't find an explanation. Was it really the new wine? No! How drunk could she be to hallucinate to that extent? She had a conversation with the woman! Even the burnt out candles were still lying around in her room!

"Alright, let's leave that for now." she said, taking out the book from her coat pocket. Since her head was lowered, she didn't notice the sigh that escaped Mrs Wade's lips the moment she decided to drop the topic.

"I didn't know you love reading." she commented, as Delaney concentrated on the book in her hands. "Aargh, I would rather kill rabbits for their meat." she said and the old woman chuckled.

"What is that?" she asked curiously.

"Some notes Malcolm gave me. I don't know when he'll be back but I have to be done by then."

Mrs Wade stared at the book for a long time. Her usually unfocused eyes were very sharp, as she tried to assess the contents of the book. She couldn't take it from Delaney as it would be too obvious. Delaney didn't seem to notice her unusual behaviour and just continued perusing the pages, with a focused gaze.

Mrs Wade's eyes widened when she saw the dragon drawing but she quickly averted her gaze before Delaney could notice. She tried to regain her composure, before resuming her senseless act. "Is that a dragon?" she gasped, her hand covering her mouth. Delaney looked up and chuckled at her reaction.

"It's a dragon." she affirmed, and the woman's eyes widened further. "Apparently, dragons exist. Have you ever seen one?" she joked but Mrs Wade's answer left her speechless.

"I have!" she exclaimed, reaching out to take the book from her. She gasped again and turned to look at Delaney. "It looks exactly the same. It is the same!"

"You have seen a dragon?" Delaney asked in bewilderment. "Yes! This one over here. Have you not seen it?" Delaney couldn't detect any absurdity in her question. She truly trusted the woman before her.

"Are you sure? Where did you see it?"

"Oh, it was a long time ago. I don't remember." she returned the book, smiling apologetically. Knowing Mrs Wade's age and her condition, Delaney believed her. She was probably too shocked to see a dragon that she couldn't remember the encounter. She remembered the first time she saw one and she actually fainted. Who wouldn't when those mythical creatures are only supposed to exist in tales.